Green Blog
21 September 2011
The answer is ... 8.7 million species
The Amazonian rainforest always fascinates me. Though sadly I've yet to see it for myself I love its beauty and wildlife.
The Amazonian rainforest in Peru contains nearly half the bird species found in South America, including the scarlet macaw. These mate for life and may live till 60.
High levels of biodiversity take millions of years to establish, says Dr John Wiens of Stony Brook University, New York. He told the BBC: "The Amazon rainforest has large numbers of tree-frog species per site because tree-frogs have been present and producing new species [there] for more than 60 million years."
Our world has many fascinating species and they're in great danger.
How many species is that? A recent study from the Universities of Dalhousie, Hawaii and Cambridge says: 8.7 million: 2.2 million species in the ocean (86% undiscovered), and 6.5 million on dry land - 91% of which we know nothing about.
Many species may vanish before we know of potential contribution to improved human well-being.
Camilo Mora, report co-author, Hawaii University
Here's the thing. European dairy farming is helping destroy the Amazon by depending on high-protein soy feed. Meat and dairy production causes nearly 20% of climate-changing emissions.
I'm proud to volunteer at Friends of the Earth: we get the facts and campaign to get things changed.
You can help protect our environment too. One way is by helping us achieve planet-friendly farming.
Kate Plowman, Volunteer - Publishing & New Media team
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